U.S. patent application number 11/414282 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-01 for method for manufacturing a plugged honeycomb filter with a single firing cycle.
Invention is credited to David John Brockway, Srinivasan Karthik Govindajaran, Jonathan Michael Mis, Rebecca Lynn Schulz, Gary Graham Squier, Kathleen Ann Wexell.
Application Number | 20070252310 11/414282 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38458260 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070252310 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brockway; David John ; et
al. |
November 1, 2007 |
Method for manufacturing a plugged honeycomb filter with a single
firing cycle
Abstract
A method for manufacturing a honeycomb structure comprising
providing a green honeycomb structure having a plurality of cell
channels extending therethrough, inserting a plug material into at
least a subset of the cell channels of the green honeycomb
structure to form a plurality of plugs therein, and drying the
plugs by exposing the plugs to electromagnetic energy, such as
microwave energy.
Inventors: |
Brockway; David John;
(Bellefonte, PA) ; Govindajaran; Srinivasan Karthik;
(Painted Post, NY) ; Mis; Jonathan Michael;
(Horseheads, NY) ; Schulz; Rebecca Lynn;
(Horseheads, NY) ; Squier; Gary Graham; (Beaver
Dams, NY) ; Wexell; Kathleen Ann; (Corning,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CORNING INCORPORATED
SP-TI-3-1
CORNING
NY
14831
US
|
Family ID: |
38458260 |
Appl. No.: |
11/414282 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
264/432 ;
264/630 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F01N 3/0222 20130101;
B28B 11/006 20130101; C04B 40/0218 20130101; C04B 38/0012 20130101;
F01N 2330/06 20130101; Y02T 10/20 20130101; Y02T 10/12 20130101;
C04B 2111/00793 20130101; C04B 38/0012 20130101; C04B 35/00
20130101; C04B 40/0218 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
264/432 ;
264/630 |
International
Class: |
H05B 6/64 20060101
H05B006/64; C04B 33/32 20060101 C04B033/32 |
Claims
1. A method for manufacturing a plugged honeycomb structure,
comprising: providing a green honeycomb structure having a
plurality of cell channels extending therethrough; inserting a plug
material into at least a subset of the cell channels of the green
honeycomb structure to form a plurality of plugs therein; and
drying the plugs by exposing the plugs to electromagnetic
energy.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting step includes
providing the plug material as an aqueous-based material.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the drying step includes exposing
the plugs to the electromagnetic energy until a water content of
the plugs is less than about 50% of a 100% wet plug weight.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the drying step includes exposing
the plugs to the electromagnetic energy until the water content of
the plugs is less than about 10% of the 100% wet plug weight.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the drying step includes exposing
the plugs to the electromagnetic energy until the water content of
the plugs is less than about 5% of the 100% wet plug weight.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting step includes
providing the plug material with components which exhibit a
dielectric constant of equal to or greater than 3 at 20.degree. C.,
wherein susceptibility to the electromagnetic energy is
improved.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of drying the plugs
includes exposing the plugs to microwave energy.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of drying includes
providing the microwave energy within the range of from about 3 MHz
to about 3 GHz.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of drying includes
providing the microwave energy within the range of from about 27
MHz to about 2.45 GHz.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of drying includes
providing the microwave energy within the range of from about 915
MHz to about 2.45 GHz.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the drying step includes
exposing the plugs to the electromagnetic energy at a power level
per unit volume of within the range of from about 0.0001
kW/in.sup.3 and to about 1.0 kW/in.sup.3.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the drying step includes
exposing the plugs to the electromagnetic energy at a power per
unit volume of within the range of from about 0.001 kW/in.sup.3 to
about 0.1 kW/in.sup.3.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the drying step includes
exposing the plugs to the electromagnetic energy for less than or
equal to about 60 minutes.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the drying step includes
exposing the plugs to the electromagnetic energy for less than or
equal to about 5 minutes.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the inserting step includes
inserting the plug material into the cell channels to a depth of
from about 0.5 mm to about 20 mm.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the inserting step includes
inserting the plug material into the cell channels to a depth of
less than or equal to about 12 mm.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the inserting step includes
inserting the plug material into the cell channels to a depth of
less than or equal to about 9 mm.
18. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of sintering
following the step of drying, wherein the green honeycomb structure
and plugs are sintered for a sufficient time and at a sufficient
temperature to form cordierite.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of sintering is
conducted with a peak temperature of above 1300.degree. C.
20. The method of claim 1, wherein the drying step includes
orienting the honeycomb structure horizontally.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to charging flowable materials into
selected cells of a honeycomb structure and drying the flowable
materials and honeycomb structure, and more particularly, to a
method for drying the flowable materials and a green honeycomb
structure.
[0002] Honeycomb structures having traverse cross-sectional
cellular densities of approximately one tenth to one hundred cells
or more per square centimeter have several uses, including solid
particulate filter bodies and stationary heat exchangers. Such uses
require selected cells of the structure to be sealed or plugged by
manifolding and the like at one or both of the respective ends
thereof. The term "sealed" and other corresponding grammatical
forms, i.e., sealant, sealing, etc., are used herein to refer to
both porous and non-porous methods of closing the open transverse
cross-sectional areas of cells.
[0003] The reference numeral 10 (FIG. 1) generally designates a
solid particulate filter body that is generally well known and that
may be fabricated utilizing a honeycomb structure 12 formed by a
matrix of intersecting, thin, porous walls 14 surrounded by an
outer wall 15, which in the illustrated example is provided a
circular cross-sectional configuration. The walls 14 extend across
and between a first end face 18 and an opposing second end face 20,
and form a large number of adjoining hollow passages or cell
channels 22 which also extend between and are open at the end faces
18, 20 of the filter body 10. To form the filter 10 (FIGS. 2 and
3), one end of each of the cells 22 is sealed, a first subset 24 of
the cells 22 being sealed at the first end face 20, and a second
subset 26 of the cells 22 being sealed at the second end face 18 of
the filter 10. Either of the end faces 18, 20 may be used as the
inlet face of the resulting filter 10.
[0004] In operation, contaminated fluid is brought under pressure
to an inlet face and enters the filter 10 via those cells which
have an open end at the inlet face. Because these cells are sealed
at the opposite end face, i.e., the outlet face of the body, the
contaminated fluid is forced through the thin porous walls 14 into
adjoining cells which are sealed at the inlet face and open at the
outlet face. The solid particulate contaminant in the fluid, which
is too large to pass through the porous openings in the walls, is
left behind and a cleansed fluid exits the filter 10 through the
outlet cells and is ready for use.
[0005] For the mass production of such filters and heat exchangers,
it is highly desirable to be able to seal selected cell channels
ends as rapidly and as inexpensively as possible. Sealing these
selected cells comprises inserting a plugging material into the
open ends of selected cell channels and subsequently drying the
plugged filter. Previous methods for drying have included firing a
high porosity ware, such as a green honeycomb structure, within a
drying oven, plugging the open ends of selected cell channels, and
re-firing the plugged honeycomb structure. These previous
techniques have resulted in cracks and stress fractures within the
walls of the channels, and filter bodies with a decreased
structural integrity. Moreover, these previous techniques are
relatively expensive as well as time intensive.
[0006] A method for plugging and drying extruded honeycomb
structures, such as ceramic particulate traps for diesel engines,
is desired that is highly repeatable and accurate, while
simultaneously having a short cycle time and resulting in a filter
with a relatively greater structural integrity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method
for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, the method comprising
providing a green honeycomb structure having a plurality of cell
channels extending therethrough, inserting a plug material into at
least a subset of the cell channels of the green honeycomb
structure to form a plurality of plugs therein, and drying the
plugs by exposing the plugs to electromagnetic energy. Preferably,
the step of drying the plugs includes exposing the plugs to
microwave energy. Preferably, the green honeycomb structure is
manufactured from a cordierite forming precursor material.
[0008] The present inventive method is highly accurate and
repeatable, may be completed in a relatively short cycle time, is
relatively easy to perform, and results in a filter with a
relatively greater structural integrity. The method further reduces
the relative cracking and stress fractures within the desired
structure produced during the drying process, reduces manufacturing
costs as associated with the cycle times, is efficient to use, and
is particularly well-adapted for the proposed use.
[0009] These and other advantages of the invention will be further
understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference
to the following written specification, claims and appended
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an extruded filter body
including a first end having a plurality of open-ended cell
channels.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the extruded filter body,
wherein a first subset of the cell channels are plugged, and a
second subset of the cell channels are open-ended
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the filter body including a second
end, wherein the first subset of the cell channels are open-ended
and a second subset of the cell channels are plugged.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a process for forming a plugged
honeycomb structure, and embodying the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional side view of a green honeycomb
structure, a top platen and a bottom platen, with the top platen
located in a starting position.
[0015] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional side view of the green
honeycomb structure and the top and bottom platens with a plugging
material inserted into the second subset of the cell channels.
[0016] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of the area
IV, FIG. 5B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper,"
"lower," "right," "left," "rear," "front," "vertical,"
"horizontal," and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention
as oriented in FIG. 1. However, it is to be understood that the
invention may assume various alternative orientations and step
sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is
also to be understood that the specific devices and processes
illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the
following specification are exemplary embodiments of the inventive
concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions
and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments
disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the
claims expressly state otherwise.
[0018] Several methods and procedures are known in the art for
forming the honeycomb structure 12 of FIG. 1 that includes the
plurality of hollow passages or cell channels 22 extending
therethrough. The present inventive process is incorporated within
an overall process that comprises extruding 30 (FIG. 4) a wet,
preferably aqueous-based ceramic precursor mixture through an
extrusion die to form a wet log, cutting 32 the wet log formed
during the extrusion step into a plurality of segmented portions,
and drying 34 the segmented portions so as to form a green
honeycomb form (a green honeycomb log). The aqueous-based ceramic
precursor mixture preferably comprises a batch mixture of
cordierite forming inorganic precursor materials, an optional pore
former such as graphite or starch, a binder, a lubricant, and a
vehicle. The inorganic batch components can be any combination of
inorganic components which can, upon firing, provide a porous
ceramic having primary sintered phase composition comprised of
cordierite.
[0019] In one aspect, the inorganic batch components can be
selected from a magnesium oxide source; an alumina-forming source;
and a silica source. The batch components are further selected so
as to yield a ceramic article comprising predominantly cordierite,
or a mixture of cordierite, mullite and/or spinel upon firing. For
example, and without limitation, in one aspect, the inorganic batch
components can be selected to provide a ceramic article which
comprises at least about 90% by weight cordierite; or more
preferably 93% by weight the cordierite. The cordierite-containing
honeycomb article consists essentially of, as characterized in an
oxide weight percent basis, from about 49 to about 53 percent by
weight. SiO.sub.2, from about 33 to about 38 percent by weight.
Al.sub.2O.sub.3, and from about 12 to about 16 percent by weight
MgO.
[0020] To this end, an exemplary inorganic cordierite precursor
powder batch composition preferably comprises about 33 to about 41
weight percent of an aluminum oxide source, about 46 to about 53
weight percent of a silica source, and about 11 to about 17 weight
percent of a magnesium oxide source. Exemplary non-limiting
inorganic batch component mixtures suitable for forming cordierite
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,885,977; 5,258,150; US Pub. No.
2004/0261384 and 2004/0029707; and RE 38,888.
[0021] The inorganic ceramic batch components can be synthetically
produced materials such as oxides, hydroxides, and the like.
Alternatively, they can be naturally occurring minerals such as
clays, talcs, or any combination thereof. Thus, it should be
understood that the present invention is not limited to any
particular types of powders or raw materials, as such can be
selected depending on the properties desired in the final ceramic
body.
[0022] The process further comprises cutting or segmenting 36 the
green honeycomb form into green honeycomb structures of a desired
length, and thereafter removing dust 38 from the green honeycomb
structures as formed during the cutting step 36, i.e., the green
ceramic precursor cutting dust. The dust is removed to improve the
adherence of the plug material to the wall and to improve the
adherence of the mask to the end of the structure. The dust removal
step is preferably accomplished by passing high velocity air
through the cell passages 22 of the structure after the cutting
step to dislodge and remove any cutting dust. Each end face 18, 20
of each honeycomb structure 12 is then masked 40 with a suitable
mask, and selected cell passages 22 are charged with a plugging
material to form plugs 42 in selected ones of the cell channels to
form a plugged, green honeycomb structure, as described below.
[0023] The plugged, green honeycomb structure is then dried 44 by
exposing the plugged, green honeycomb structure to an
electromagnetic energy, in accordance with the present invention.
The dried, plugged, green honeycomb structure may then be fired 46
for further sintering and to form the fired ceramic article.
Several steps of this overall process are known to those skilled in
the art, and as such the steps of extruding 30, the primary cutting
step 32, the step of drying 34, the secondary cutting step 36, and
the masking step 40 are not discussed in detail herein.
[0024] The step of plugging the green honeycomb structure 12
includes charging or otherwise introducing a flowable plugging
cement material, such as a slurry preferably comprising a water
diluted ceramic solution, into selected cell channels 22 as
determined by the plugging mask. Formation of plugging masks may be
by the method taught in U.S. Ser. No. 11/287,000 filed Nov. 20,
2005, for example, entitled "Apparatus, System and Method For
Manufacturing A Plugging Mask For A Honeycomb Substrate" which is
hereby incorporated by reference herein. An example of the plugging
process 42 is best illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b, and utilizes a
fixed bottom platen 48 and a movable top platen or piston 50. The
present configuration of the platens 48, 50 are for illustrative
purposes only, and it is noted that other methods for charging or
plugging the cell channels 22 may be utilized, including utilizing
a fixed top platen and a movable bottom platen, or moveable top and
bottom platens. In the illustrated example, the plugging material
is provided in the form of a cement patty 52 (having a shape of the
end face 20 of the structure 12). The patty 52 is positioned
between the bottom platen 48 and the second end face 20 of the
green honeycomb structure 12. The top platen or piston 50 is then
moved in a direction as indicated in FIG. 5B and represented by
directional arrow 54 so as to force at least a portion of the
plugging material or cement patty 52 into the unmasked open ends of
the cell channels 22, thereby forming a plurality of plugs 56
within selected cell channels 22. In accordance with the present
invention, the plugs 56 are provided so as to have a depth "d" of
preferably between 0.5 mm to 20 mm, more preferably to have a depth
"d" of between 0.5 mm and 12 mm, and most preferably to have a
depth "d" of between 0.5 mm and 9 mm, so as to provide proper
plugging of the cell channels 22 and proper drying of the plugs 56
during the electromagnetic drying step 44. After charging-insertion
step of the cement 52 to form plugs 56 is complete, the mask is
preferably removed from ends 18 and 20 of the structure 12.
Although plugging by using a patty is described herein, the
plugging step may be accomplished by any know plugging method, such
as taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,818,317; PCT/US05/042672 filed Nov. 5,
2005; U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,728; U.S. Pat. No. 4,557,682; U.S. Pat.
No. 4,557,773; U.S. Pat. No. 4,715,801; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,021,204
for example. Suitable plugging materials may be of the same or
similar composition as the green honeycomb structure, or optionally
as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,329,162 to Pitcher and U.S. Pat.
No. 4,297,140 to Paisley.
[0025] The electromagnetic drying step 44 comprises drying the
plugs 56 as formed within the cell channels 22 of the green
honeycomb structure 12 by exposing the plugs 56 to electromagnetic
energy. Preferably, this electromagnetic energy is provided in the
form of microwave, however, other suitable forms of electromagnetic
energy may also be utilized for the drying of the plugs 56. The
microwave drying of the plugs 56 results in a relatively quick and
uniform heating of the green honeycomb structure and the plugs 56,
thereby reducing shrinkage of the plugs 56 and decreasing the heat
stress exerted on the porous walls 14 of the green honeycomb
structure 12 during the drying step 44 as compared to conventional
drying means. This reduction in stress as exerted on the porous
walls 14 results in a greater structural integrity of the resultant
particulate filter. The plugs 56 are preferably exposed to the
microwave energy until the water content of the plugs 56 are less
than 50% of a 100% wet plug weight, more preferably less than 10%
of the 100% wet plug weight, and most preferably less than about 5%
of the 100% plug weight, with the 100% wet plug weight being
defined as the water content of the plug 56 prior to being exposed
to the microwave energy. Preferably, the microwave energy is
provided within the range of from about 3 MHz to about 3 GHz, more
preferably within the range of from about 27 MHz to about 2.45 GHz,
and most preferably within the range of from about 915 MHz to about
2.45 GHz. Further, the electromagnetic drying step 44 includes
exposing the plugged green honeycomb structure to a power lever per
unit volume of preferably between 0.0001 kW/in.sup.3 and 1.0
kW/in.sup.3, and more preferably within the range of between 0.001
kW/in.sup.3 and about 1.0 kW/in.sup.3. Moreover, the energies as
noted above are preferably applied to the plugged green honeycomb
structure for a time of less than or equal to 60 minutes, and more
preferably for a time of less than or equal to 5 minutes.
Electromagnetic drying, such as microwave drying, is discussed in
U.S. Pat. No. 6,706,233 and US 2004/0079469.
[0026] As noted above, the firing or sintering step 46 may be
conducted subsequent to electromagnetically drying 44 the green
honeycomb structure. This step is preferably conducted via
conventional sintering means at a temperature of above 1300.degree.
C. and for a sufficient time so as to form a predominant phase of
cordierite. It is also noted that the drying step is preferably
conducted with the honeycomb structure in a horizontal
orientation.
[0027] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method
for manufacturing a honeycomb structure, the method comprising
providing a green honeycomb structure having a plurality of cell
channels extending therethrough, inserting a plug material into at
least a subset of the cell channels of the green honeycomb
structure to form a plurality of plugs therein, and drying the
plugs by exposing the plugs to electromagnetic energy.
[0028] It will become apparent to those skilled in the art that
various modifications to the preferred embodiment of the invention
as described herein can be made without departing from the spirit
or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and the equivalents thereto.
* * * * *